Pickup truck endgate fastener



March 2, 1954 J. MILHOAN PICKUP TRUCK ENDGATE FASTENER Filed July 5, 1950 r19 JNYENTOR.

w mfix a 7 1 mm a; f J Z Z 1 "m d I53? x J 6 l T H 6 a f djfl Patented Mar. 2, 1954 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PICKUP TRUCK ENDGATE FASTENER' J olin Milhoan, Wildorado, Tex. v I

Application July 3, 1950, Serial No. 171,847

This invention relates to a latching mechanism for holding in a closed position the end gate of a truck.

The object of the invention is to provide a latching mechanism which will hold in closed position an end gate of a truck, the latching mechanism including a control means which is adapted to be manually operated in order to open the end gate.

Another object of the invention is to provide a truck end gate latching mechanism which can be readily manually actuated by a single control member when the end gate is to be opened, as when the truck is to be unloaded or loaded with oods or material.

A further object of the invention is to provide a truck end gate fastener which is extremely simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of this application, and in which like numerals are used to designate like parts throughout the same:

Figure 1 is a rear elevational view of the latching mechanism of the present invention, as mounted on the end gate of a truck;

Figure 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical sectionaLvieW of the latch-operating mechanism, and showing one end of the end gate having a latch arranged in locking position;

Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2, but showing the unlocked position of the parts prior to opening the end gate;

Figure 4 is a sectional view taken on the line l4 of Figure 2 the heads of pins '21 being omitted for purpose of clarity;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line '55 of Figure 2;

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line BB of Figure 2;

Figure '7 is a sectional view taken on the line 1-1 of Figure 2;

Referring in detail to the drawings, the numeral l0 designates a portion of a truck body which includes spaced, parallel, vertically disposed side walls An end gate or tail gate |2 extends between the rear ends of the pair of side walls II, and the end gate I2 is hingedly connected to the side walls II by suitable hinge pins or pivot pins l4, Figure 1. The end -gate |2 includes a back wall i5 and a pair of spaced, parallel side flanges I6 and top and bottom flanges IS.

The present invention is directed to a latching 1 Claim. (Cl. 292-7) mechanism which is adapted to hold the end gate |2 in its closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, so as to prevent accidental opening of the end gate l2. When the endgate I2. is to be opened, the latching mechanism of the present invention can be actuated, whereby swinging movement of the end gate. |2 about the pins l4 will be permitted.

The latch mechanism of the present invention includes a rectangular plate H. which may be fabricated of a suitable metal, and the plate I1 is secured to the rear surface of the back wall l5 by suitable securing'elements, such as boltand-nut assemblies, or screws, l8, Figure 2. Secured to the plate I! is a bracket IS, the bracket |9 including a web 20 which is spaced from the plate I1, and the bracket l9 further including a pair of spaced, parallel legs 2| which are secured to the plate H, as by welding. Rotatably projecting through the web 20 is a portion of, a handle 22, Figure 4, and a disc 23 is keyed or otherwise secured to the handle 22, so that rotation of the handle 22 causes rotation of the disc 23.' The disc 23'is rotatably positioned between the web 20 and the plate H. The disc '23 is provided with an annular rim 24.

Pivotally connected to the rim 24 of the disc 23 is a pair of arms 25. Each of the arms 25 is bifurcated or includes a pair of spaced, parallel, apertured ears 26, and a pin 21 pivotally connects each of the arms 25 to the rim 24, the rim 24 being interposed between the pair of ears 26. Secured to the free end of each of the arms 25 is a rod 28, and mounted on the free end of each of the rods 28 is a head 29, for a purpose to be later described. Thus, it will be seen that by rotating the disc 23 by means of the handle 22, the arms 25 can be moved from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, whereby reciprocation of the rods 28 will be effected. Rotary movement of the disc 23 is limited by the legs 2| of the bracket l9, since the arms 25 will contact or abut the legs 2| after the disc 23 has been rotated a predetermined degree.

Each of the side flanges l6 of the end gate I2 is provided with an elongated opening or slot 30, Figure 6, and the rods 28 project through the openings 30, Figure 6. Secured to each of the side walls I I is a mounting plate or body member 3|, the body member 3| having a substantially L-shape. An inclined shelf 32 is secured to each of the body members 3|, as by welding, Figures 2 and 3. The body member 3| is provided with an L-shaped slot 33, and this slot 33 registers with a similar L-shaped slot 34 in each of the side walls I I. Thus, when the end gate is in its closed position, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, the rods 28 will be positioned in the lower portion of the slots 33 and 34 so that accidental opening of the end gate l2 will be prevented. In order to open the end gate l2, it is only necessary to rotate the disc 23 by means of the handle 22 from the position shown in Figure 2 to the position shown in Figure 3, so that reciprocation of the pair of rods 28 is caused. As the rods 28' are moved, it will be seen that the heads 29 will each ride up the inclined shelf 32 until the rods 23 can clear the vertical portions of the pair of slots 33 and 35, whereby the end gate l2 can be swung or pivoted about the pins l4.

Projecting rearwardly from each of. the body members 3| and integrally formed thereon is a guide member 35, Figure 5. The guide member 35 includes an inclined edge 36. Thus, when the end gate 12 is being closed, the rods 28 will engage the inclined. edges 35 and be guided by these edges into the slots 83 and. 34,. so that there will be no interference with the closing. of the end gate.

Normally, the end gate i2 and the parts of the latching mechanism are in the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, when the end gate 2 is in its closed position. To open the end gate, the disc 23 is rotated in a clockwise direction by means of the handle 22, or in other words, the disc 23 is rotated from the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2 to the positions shown in Figure 3. This causes the pair of arms 25 to move to the position shown in Figure 3, and this eiiects a reciprocation or movement of the rods 28 to an outward position. The outward movement of the rods 28 causes the heads 29 to slide upwardly on the inclined shelf 32 so that the rods 28 are lifted slightly, whereby the rods 28 will be raised above the vertical portions of the L-shaped slots 33 and 34. Then, the end gate t2 can swing freely about the pins M without encountering any obstructions. The end gate 12 is closed by merely raising or pivoting the end gate 12 about the pins M. As the gate 12 is pivoted to its closed position, the rods 28 will ride up on the inclined edges 36 of the guide members 35, and then be guided. into the horizontal portions of the slots 33 and 34. Next, the disc 23 is rotated by means of. the handle 22 in a counterclockwise direction, so that the parts move from the positions shown in Figure 3 to the positions shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereby accidental opening of the end gate 12 will be prevented.

In a bolt mechanism for locking the endgate of a truck body having spaced parallel side walls with the endgate mounted on the side walls for swinging movement about a horizontal axis and having spaced parallel vertically disposed side flanges with registering openings in the side walls and flanges, the improvement comprising a. plate secured to the exterior surface of said endgate, a disc, means rotatably connecting said disc to said plate, a handle for rotating said disc, a pair of rods projecting through said registering openings, a pair of heads, one of said heads being mounted'on each of said connecting rods, a bracket projecting rearwardly from said plate and having a web spaced from. said plate, said disc being rotatably arranged between. the web and said plate, an annular rim projecting from said disc, a pair of bifurcated arms pivotally connected to said rim, each of said rods being secured to each of said a body member secured to each of said walls and having. a first inverted L-shaped slot, said registering openings in the side walls constituting a second. inverted L-shaped slot in each of said side walls registering with said first slot and each of the registering openings in the side flanges constituting an elongated opening, said rods projecting through said openings and being mounted for movement into and out of said slots, 2. guide member secured to each of said body members and provided with an inclined edge for guiding said rods into said openings when the gate is" being closed.

JOHN MILHOAN.

References Cited in the file of this patent STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,532,322 Lane Apr. I, 1925 1,536,523 Peterson May 5, 1925 2,343,977 Jones et a1. Mar. 14, 1944 2,551,832 Edmonds et al May 8, 1951 2,570,260 Milhan Oct. 9, 1951 

